Top News:
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Cubs Acquire Anthony Rizzo — The Cubs have acquired first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right-hander Zach Cates from the Padres for right-hander Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na, the teams announced. The move provides the Cubs with a potential long-term first baseman and makes room for another first baseman in San Diego.
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Gordon Wittenymyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs acquire Anthony Rizzo from Padres in 4-player deal — Unconvinced that Andrew Cashner is the future starting ace the Cubs' former regime envisioned, the new regime on Friday traded the organization's top young pitcher to the San Diego Padres in a four-player deal that landed …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Baseball Nation
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Padres acquire Cashner, send Rizzo to Cubs — Outfield prospect Na coming to SD; Cates off to Chicago — SAN DIEGO — The Anthony Rizzo era didn't last long in San Diego, as the first baseman was traded to the Cubs on Friday as part of a four-player deal that saw the Padres acquire pitcher Andrew Cashner.
Discussion:
Chicken Friars and Mark My Word
Adam Harrington / CBS Chicago:
Sources: Cubs' Starlin Castro Accused Of Sexual Assault — CHICAGO (CBS) — WBBM Newsradio has learned that Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a night of drinking last fall. — As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports exclusively …
Discussion:
MLB.com, HardballTalk, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Baseball Nation, The Cub Reporter (TCR), Call to the Pen, The Big Lead and Deadspin
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Craig Calcaterra / HardballTalk:
Report: Starlin Castro accused of sexual assault — Wow: WBBM Newsradio in Chicago is reporting that Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has been accused of sexually assaulting a Chicago woman last September. No charges have been filed and he has not been arrested, but he is wanted for questioning.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Baseball Nation
ESPN:
Cubs' Castro part of sexual assault investigation — Chicago police say they are investigating an accusation that Chicago Cubs All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro sexually assaulted a woman last fall, but no charges have been filed at this time and Castro's representatives deny the allegation.
Discussion:
VFTB
Fox Sports:
Moving Garza makes sense for Cubs — The Cubs' position on right-hander Matt Garza is the same as the White Sox's position was on lefty John Danks. … Well, OK. But if the Cubs are going to trade Garza, the time to do it is now — before he risks injury, and before the trade rumors he surely will hear in 2012 drive him nuts.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Big Z's run in Chicago over with trade to Miami — Cubs swap embattled Zambrano for Volstad after 11 seasons — CHICAGO — The Cubs knew they were committed to spending $18 million in 2012 on Carlos Zambrano one way or another, but Theo Epstein wasn't convinced that the right-hander could win back the trust of his teammates.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Source: Orioles talked to Cubs about Soriano — Another day passed without any news from the warehouse, leaving me with little to do besides count the number of calls and text messages that went unreturned and sweeping up about 12 pounds of pine needles that fell off my Christmas tree as I carried it outside.
Discussion:
ESPN, HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, MLB Rumors and NESN.com
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Howard cleared by doctor to begin exercises — Phils slugger likely to start baseball activities in six weeks — PHILADELPHIA — Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. sounded relatively chipper early Thursday evening. — He had reason to be. Amaro said he received encouraging news …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and HardballTalk
Eno Sarris / Amazin' Avenue:
Mets Hire Turnaround Consultants, Put Bankruptcy On Table? — A source familiar with the situation has said that the Mets have hired CRG Partners — the turnaround consultants that handled the Rangers' bankruptcy sale — and that a team sale with or without bankruptcy is on the table.
Discussion:
Kranepool Society, HardballTalk, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MetsBlog.com, The Good Phight and Deadspin
Fox Sports:
Sources: Cards' Duncan taking leave — Dave Duncan, one of the game's most respected pitching coaches, is taking a leave of absence from the St. Louis Cardinals, general manager John Mozeliak said Thursday night. — Duncan, 66, is leaving the team so he can be with his wife, Jeanine …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Viva El Birdos, baseballmusings.com, Baseball Nation, MLB Rumors and Yahoo! Sports
